Two out of three Australians regularly use complementary medicines, which constitute a A$3.5 billion domestic market. But the industry’s marketing strategies are a source of ongoing controversy and pose…

Natural or bioidentical hormones are plant-derived products closely resembling the oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone produced in the body. The hormones are made up (compounded) in pharmacies to…

Researchers working with alternative medicines have an obligation to report negative or null findings.
hit thatswitch/FlickrFebruary 21, 2014

TESTING ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES - La Trobe University’s decision to accept funding from Swisse for a new centre to research alternative medicines has sparked controversy. There’s been a fair bit of debate…

TESTING ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES - La Trobe University’s decision to accept funding from Swisse for a new centre to research alternative medicines has sparked controversy. This series looks at how the evidence…

In their “natural” form herbal medicines are so variable from batch to batch and across brands that gathering reliable evidence of effectiveness is unlikely ever to be possible.
Mickey_Liaw/FlickrFebruary 13, 2014

TESTING ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES - La Trobe University’s decision to accept funding from Swisse for a new centre to research alternative medicines has sparked controversy. This series looks at how the evidence…

What really works to alleviate hot flushes and other symptoms of menopause?
splityarn/FlickrFebruary 13, 2014

During menopause, estrogen levels drop, leading to a number of unpleasant symptoms. The transition to menopause can significantly affect women’s quality of life, with many willing to try anything to alleviate…

Most people don’t think of herbal medicines as drugs so they don’t tell their doctor about taking them.
Ryan Somma/FlickrFebruary 12, 2014

TESTING ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES - La Trobe University’s decision to accept funding from Swisse for a new centre to research alternative medicines has sparked controversy. This series looks at how the evidence…

Acupuncture is one of a suite of alternative therapies almost two-thirds of Australians use every year.
KayVee.INC/FlickrFebruary 11, 2014

TESTING ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES - La Trobe University’s decision to accept funding from Swisse for a new centre to research alternative medicines has sparked controversy. This series looks at how the evidence…

It seems anyone can call themselves a doctor these days.
Bart/FlickrDecember 12, 2013

Qualifications and their associated titles allow for quick identification of appropriately trained or recognised experts within a given field. They bestow legitimacy on the information provided to people…

There’s a conflict between the need for pharmacists to maintain a profitable business and their ethical obligations to the community.
Andrew DubberMarch 20, 2013

If you look at the shelves of most Australian community pharmacies or browse the pages of local internet pharmacies, you’ll see numerous examples of products making claims that can’t be supported by scientific…

How can you tell what products might be of use and which ones will only lighten your wallet?
Image from shutterstock.comMarch 7, 2013

Australia’s complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) industry is worth about A$4 billion annually. Around two thirds of Australians use CAM – which includes therapies such as chiropractic and naturopathy…

Muscle testing is used to gauge everything from general health status and specific supplement dosage.
University of the Fraser ValleyDecember 19, 2012

Muscle testing, or kinesiology, has grown in popularity over the last 30 years. It’s a simple, non-invasive assessment tool used by many different kinds of health practitioners during examination or evaluation…

Up to one in three Australians take vitamin supplements, but few healthy people need them.
Brian GaidDecember 17, 2012

Forget an apple a day, vitamin manufacturers would have you believe it’s important to take daily vitamins to boost your health. And a surprising proportion of Australians do. Data from the last National…

Late last year, two oncologists went public with a theory that cancer survivor Ian Gawler’s secondary cancer may not have been cancer at all but tuberculosis instead. At the time, the story made front…

Clinical hypnotherapy can be defined as being a combination of both hypnosis and psychological intervention.
Katy SilbergerNovember 21, 2012

The term hypnosis often leads to visions of willing participants engaging in outrageous and embarrassing stunts at the command of a hypnotist. But while this practice of humiliating participants on stage…